Fishbone’s Saturday night set at the White Stage set the bar as one of the best at this year’s Fuji Rock for funk, punk, rock and pure showmanship. It also included a major dig at Donald Trump, to whom they dedicated their song “Lyin’ Ass Bitch.” Frontman Angelo Moore injected a new political rap into the tail end of the tune and closed it out with the unambiguous lines, “This song is dedicated to Lying Ass Trump! The lyin’, piece of sack of shit slut trashcan scum dirtbag, Biiiitch!”

Considered one of the best “live bands” in the world in the 90s, Fishbone is enjoying a resurgence. Within the last year the lineup has been restored to all original members save one (Kendall Jones), and big tours are happening for the US and Europe. This is the band that arguably created the genre of funk rock that was later popularized by the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Jane’s Addiction, Primus and other ‘90s bands. Fuji Rock however is the only Asia show yet announced for this year, so the Fuji Rock punks and moshers were ready.

The show started at 8pm, just as rains from the fringe of a typhoon began spattering the Naeba Valley. The opening song, “Sunless Saturday”, couldn’t have been more appropriate, both for the context ––“Chase these clouds away / I hate this sunless Saturday” –– and the punk metal riffs that got the moshpit going within the first couple bars. Originally a metal-riffed lament for the L.A. riots of 1992, the song here gave the signal to get the party started. They followed up with the freakout tune “Subliminal Fascism,” and from there the setlist moved through the band’s many eclectic phases and styles –– ska, funk, punk, metal and freakout jazz –– including plenty of Fishbone classics, like “Hey Ma and Pa”, “Bonin’ in the Boneyard”, “Alcoholic”, “Everyday Sunshine”, and their traditional closer, “Party at Ground Zero.”

A quick aside: Fishbone probably also had the most entertaining soundcheck of Fuji Rock 2018. The mics were all on as they tested the equipment, including the sound man’s mic, and Angelo Moore was sauntering around the stage offering manic quips to no one in particular. “I’m tellin’ you guys, it’s gonna be a wang dang doodle!” he said, addressing the crowd in his mock-white person voice. Then feigning familiarity and waving to people in the crowd, he said, “Hi Brett! Hi Johnny! Hi Sally! Hi Barbara!”

There were a found technical glitches. The band couldn’t seem to hear each other well in the later part of the set, so there may have been an issue with the monitors. But by then the audience was dancing so hard they didn’t care. By the time it was over, the rains were coming harder and many of the punkers were soaked the the skin. But nobody was cared. Because this was Fishbone, man!